Striker and carrier for railway couplers



Jan. 29, 1957 E. FURNISS STRIKER AND CARRIER FOR RAILWAY COUPLEZRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 3. 1953 I NVENTOR ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jan. 29, 1957 E. FURNISS STRIKER AND CARRIER FOR RAILWAY COUPLEJRS Filed Aug. 3, 1953 Jan. 29, 1957 L. E. FURNISS S T RIKER AND CARRIER FOR RAILWAY COUPLERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 ATTORNEY United States STRIKER AND CARRIER FDR RAILWAY COUPLERS Loree Elwyn Furniss, Groveport, Ohio, assiguor to The Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus, @hio Application August 3, 1953, Serial No. 371,837

13 Claims. (Cl. 213-61) An object of the present invention is to provide im-- provements in the structure of the carrier member and its mounting within the striker casting so as to reduce the frictional resistance of the carrier iron to lateral movements thereof with respect to the striker whereby the coupler shank supported on the carrier member will provide sufficient frictional resistance thereon that small lateral displacements of the coupler relative to the car will be accommodated by lateral movement between the carrier member and the striker casting with such horizontal movements of the carrier iron being accommodated by the springs which support the carrier member to eliminate sliding of the coupler shank of the carrier member for many of the small movements which occur in service thereby eliminating much of the wear on the carrier member and the coupler stem.

Another object of the invention is to provide improve ments in means for limiting upward movement of the carrier member relative to the striker casting and to provide improvements in the mounting of such restraining means on the striker.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the railway draft appliance art as the present disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description wherein an embodiment of the striker and coupler carrier are disclosed including several embodiments of means for limiting the upward movement of the carrier member.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a combined striker and front draft lug casting with the carrier member mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the striker casting and coupler carrier assembly taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 in the left hand portion is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Pig. 2 with the right hand portion representing a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View of the lower portion of the striker taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l with the coupler carrier and associated parts omitted.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a key which serves as one of the abutments limiting upward movement of the carrier iron relative to the striker.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the key.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the key.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational View of the carrier iron.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the carrier member.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line Jib-ll of Fig. 10. y y t 2,779,481 Patented Jan. 29, 19 57 Fig. 12 is a fragmentary end view of a lower portion of the assembly taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the lower portion of a modified striker casting for accommodating an alternate type of key.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14-44 of Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line ii -35 of Fig. 13.

The invention is directed to a striker and coupler carrier assembly wherein the resiliently supported carrier iron is provided with clearance to permit lateral movements of the carrier relative to the striker. Referring to the drawings a striker casting is shown at 16 which may be of the type provided with integral front draft lugs (not shown). The striker casting is provided with a front opening 17 through which the stem 18 of a coupler is adapted to extend. The transverse characteristics of the coupler stem are outlined in phantom lines in Fig. 1. The coupler shank id is adapted to rest on and be supported by a carrier member 19. The carrier iron is resiliently supported on the striker casting as hereinafter described so that the coupler shank 18 may swivel in vertical planes and at the same time be resiliently supported throughout substantially all of the vertical angled positions encountered in service.

The striker casting 15 except for the front and lower portions may be of a conventional construction which includes webs forming side walls 21 and 22 joined by a top wall 23. The striker casting may be provided with integral draft lugs at the rear portion (not shown) of a conventional design and construction. The striker casting is provided with holes 24 in the side walls thereof for securing it to the side walls of the sill structure. The top of the striker casting is provided with holes 26 (Fig. 3) for securing the top to the upper portion of the sill structure.

The front and lower portion of the striker casting includes a novel construction over the prior art. A trough structure is formed integral with the striker casting which includes a front wall 27 and a rear wall 28. A reinforcing rib 29 is carried by the upper edge portion of the front wall 2'7 and extends across the casting as shown in Fig. l. The upper boundary of the front wall 2'? and the rib 29 define the lower extremity of the front opening 1'7 in the striker casting. A reinforcing rib 31 extends transversely of the striker along the upper edge of the rear wall 23 of the trough structure. The front wall 27 is provided with relatively large weight reducing openings 32 and the wall 28 may be provided with similar openings (not shown).

A flange 33 is formed integral with the striker casting subtantially in vertical alignment with the front wall 27 of the trough structure. A similar transversely disposed flange 34 is provided at the other side of the striker casting substantially in the vertical plane of the front wall 27 of the trough structure. The flanges 33 and 34 extend to the top of the striker. A second transversely disposed flange 36 is carried by the side of the casting and spaced rearwardly from the rib 33 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The flange 36 is generally in alignment with the rear wall 28 adjacent the end thereof as will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 5. The flange 36 is preferably parallel to the flange 33 and forms an open space 37 between these flanges to provide an open area below the center line 33. The flange 36 merges at its upper end with a horizontal rib 39 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A similar flange 41 is formed along the other side of the striker substantially parallel with respect to the flange 34. The flange 41 merges at its upper end with a horizontally disposed rib 42. An open area similar to that shown at 37 is provided between the flange 34 and 41 in the area below the horizontal rib 42. Above the horizontal ribs 39 and 42 the side walls 21 and 22 of the striker both extend to the front flanges 33 and 34 respectively.

The trough structure having the front wall 27 and the rear wall 2% is provided with a bottom wall 43. A plurality of upstanding spring positioning spuds 44 are provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 43. The transverse ends of the bottom plate 4? are inclined upwardly and are flush with similar inclined portions 46 and 47 of the front and back walls 2'7 and 2% of the trough structure.

The carrier iron 19 is formed with a top plate &8. A lug 51 extends upwardly from one end of theplate 48 and an upstanding lug 52 is carried by the other end of the plate 48. The lugs 51 and 52 are adapted to be engaged by the coupler shank 18 when the coupler is shifted horizontally a predetermined amount. The inner surfaces of the lugs 51 and 52 converge towards each other in proceeding rearwardly of the draft appliance.

The angle of the inner surfaces of the lugs 51 and 52 is the same as the angle of the coupler shank 18 when swiveled horizontally to one side sufficiently to contact the inner surface of either of the lugs 51 or 52. An angular edge 53 defines one end of the top plate 43 and an angular edge 54 defines the other end of the top plate 46. The edge surfaces 53 and 54 converge in proceeding rearwardly with respect to the draft attachment and are preferably parallel to the inner surfaces of the lugs 51 and 52. The front edge $6 of the plate of; is preferably straight and adapted to lie in a plane substantially flush with the front wall 27 of the trough structure. The carrier iron is provided with a front wall 57 and a depending rear guide ear 58. The ear has a convex lower edge as shown by the dotted line 59 in Fig. 9. The front wall 57 in its mid portion is concave shaped. A plurality of spring positioning spuds 61 depend from and are carried by the top plate 48 of the carrier iron. The spuds 61 are located intermediate the front wall 57 and the plane of the depending ear 53.

A horizontal shelf 62 is carried by one end of the carrier iron 19 and the top surface of the shelf 62 is spaced below the plane of the top plate 43. A similar shelf 63 is carried by the other side of the carrier member equally spaced below the top plate 48. The shelves 62 and 63 are formed integral with the front wall 57 and further supported by end webs 64. Beveled surfaces 66 are formed along the edges of the shelves 62 and 63 and the inclination of the beveled surfaces is best shown in Figs. 11 and 12. When the carrier iron 19 is assembled in position in the striker 16 it is resiliently supported by a plurality of springs 68 resting at their lower ends on the bottom wall 43 and positioned thereon by the spuds 44. The upper ends of the springs 68 engage the under surface of the carrier iron and are maintained in spaced relation with respect to each other by means of the spuds 61.

The carrier iron It) is assembled within the striker by first tilting the top plate 4-8 to an inclined position with one lug 51 or 52 below the other so that the carrier iron may be bodily moved into the opening 37. If the lug 51 is in the lowered position the shelf 62 at the then lower end of the carrier member may be inserted into the space 37 between the flanges 33 and 36. The other end of the carrier iron may then be lowered and the shelf 63 will then enter the space between the flanges 3d and 41 at the other-side of the striker. The carrier iron is then turned so that the top plate 48 is in a substantially horizontal plane. The carrier member l) is then raised as high as possible with respect to the striker and until the shelves 62 and 63 contact the ribs 39 and 42. The springs 68 may then be inserted under the carrier iron so that their lower ends may engage the bottom plate 43 of the trough structure around the spuds td. Thereafter the carrier iron 19 is lowered onto the springs 68. Downward force is then applied to the top plate to compress 4. p the spring 68 until the retaining keys may be inserted as hereinafter described above the shelves 62 and 63 to hold the carrier iron in its normal position.

The invention includes novel means for retaining the springs 68 in partially compressed conditions whereby the coupler stem 18 is supported in a substantially horizontal plane. The front wall 27 of the trough structure is provided with an opening 71 as shown in Fig. l. The opening 71 is of a substantially rectangular shape but is provided with an enlarged open portion 72. The rear wall 7.3 of the trough structure is provided with an opening 74 in horizontal alignment with the opening 71 and the side wall 21 of the striker is provided with a recess 75 in alignment with the opening 74. A similar opening 76 is provided in the front wall 27 of the trough structure. The opening 76 is generally of rectangular shape provided with an enlarged portion 77. The rear wall 28 of the trough structure is provided with an opening 78 (Fig. 12) in horizontal alignment with the opening 76. The side wall 22 of the striker is provided with a recess adjacent the opening 78 similar to the recess 75, and the purpose of these recesses will be appreciated the disclosure proceeds.

The openings 71 and 76 in the front wall 27 of the trough structure and the openings in the rear wall 28 are for the purpose of receiving retaining keys one of which is shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Each retaining key 7 9 is designed to be self-locking after being applied to the striker and is adapted to hold the carrier iron in a position where the springs 68 are slightly compressed. The key as shown in Fig. 6 includes a pair of end portions 81 having horizontal plane surfaces 82 for bearing against the upper ends of the openings 71 and 76 in the front wall 27 of the trough structure and corresponding openings in the back wall 28 of the trough structure. The intermediate portion of the key 79 is offset from the end portions 81; to provide a horizontal plane surface 83 at the top of the intermediate portion. Shoulders 84 define the ends of the intermediate portion of the key. The shoulders 84 are for the purpose of abutting the inner surface of the walls 27 and 28 of the trough structure to lock the key in position as hereinafter described. The under surface of the intermediate portion of the key is provided with a horizontal central surface 86 with inclined surfaces 87 at the ends thereof. The surface 36 is adapted to engage the top face of either of the shelves 62 and 63 and the inclined surfaces 87 are so sloped as to lie along the inclined surface 66 on the shelves. it will be observed from a consideration of Fig. 7 that the intermediate portion of the key 79 is laterally offset to provide a projection 88 having tapered surfaces 89.

One of thekeys 79 may be inserted in the opening 71 by first rotating the key through one hundred eighty de grees from the position shown in Fig. 7 so that the lateral projection 88 may move endwise into the enlarged portion 72 of the opening 71. The key is of course inserted in the opening 71 while downward force is applied to the carrier iron 19 so that the shelf 62 is below the opening 71. After the inner end portion of the key has entered the opening 74 in the wall 28 the shoulders 84 will be positioned between the front and rear walls 27 and 28 of the trough structure. The recess 75 provides clearance for the inner ,end of the key 79. Thereafter the key 79 may be rotated one hundred eighty degrees to assume the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The shoulders 84 prevent the key from being moved endwise and it is retained in position over the shelf 62. Another of the keys 79 may be inserted in the opening 76 when the lateral portion 88 is so oriented as to pass through the enlarged open portion 77 (Fig. 1). This key will of course extend over the shelf 63 and the inner end of the key may enter-the opening 78 and the rear wall 28 of the trough. A recess (not shown) is provided in the side wall 22 of the striker to provide clearance for the inner end of the key accommodated in the opening 78. The key is then rotated to assume the posi* 'tion shown in Fig. 1 whereby the shoulders '84 engage the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls 27 and ZSto prevent the escape of the key. Thereafter the force applied to the carrier iron 19 is relieved and upward movement of the carrier iron will cause the shelves 62 and 63 to engage the keys 79 and limit upward movement of the carrier member.

The upward force of the springs 68 against the carrier iron 19 which is transmitted to the striker through the keys '79 is just slightly greater than the vertical load of the coupler as applied by the shank 18 to the top plate 48.- Thus in service there is only slight pressure of the top surfaces of the shelves 62 and 63 against the bottom surface 86 of the keys and therefore only slight frictional resistance at these contact areas to lateral movement of the exerted on the plate 48 of the carrier iron 19 there is a greater frictional resistance to relative lateral movement between these two parts than between the shelves 62 and 63 and the keys 79. Consequently in service small lateral displacement of the coupler relative to the draft appliance and the railway vehicle will be accommodated by lateral movement between the carrier iron 19 and the striker casting 16 with resultant horizontal displacement of the upper ends of the springs 68. Such lateral displacement of the carrier iron 19 is made possible by the clearance indicated at S in Figs. 1 and 3. The elimination of sliding movement of the coupler shank 18 with respect to the carrier iron 19 for substantially all of the small movements that occur in service eliminates practically all of the wear on the coupler shank and the carrier member and particularly the top plate 48.

A modified form of key for retaining the carrier iron in proper position is shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. The key 91 is similar to the key 79 except that it is not provided with abutment surfaces 84 and the lateral projection 88 of the key 79 is omitted. The front wall 27a of the trough structure on the striker casting is provided with an opening 76a and the rear wall 28a of the trough structure is provided with an opening 78a. The side wall 21a of the striker is provided with a recess 92 to provide clearance for the inner end of the key 91. The key 91 need not be inverted before introduction into the opening 76a and after the inner end 93 is in a position within the opening 73a the carrier iron may be released so that the shelf 63 will engage the lower central portion of the key 91. The front wall 27a of the trough structure is provided with spaced cars 94 having aligned slots 96 therein for receiving a retaining plate 97. The ends 98 of the plate 97 are bent at angles to the intermediate portion to prevent the escape of the retaining plate. The retaining plate overlies the front end of the key 91 to prevent its endwise escape from the opening 76a. The endwise movement of key 91 to the right in Fig. 14 is prevented by the side wall 21a of the striker casting.

While the invention has been described with reference to particular structural characteristics and with regard to one general overall organization it will be appreciated that changes may be made in the shape and proportions of the parts as well as the entire assembly. Such modifications and others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What i claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a coupler support, a striker having an opening in the front thereof through which a stem of a coupler is adapted to extend, a trough structure carried by a lower portion of the striker below said opening, a carrier iron having portions depending into said trough structure, a top plate on the carrier iron, resilient means within the trough structure supporting said carrier iron, side walls on the striker spaced from each other at a distance greater than the transverse dimensions of the carrier iron whereby the'carrieriron may move laterally with respect to the striker, a shelf extending from each end of the carrier iron below the top plate, keys carried by the trough structure with one key extending transversely over each shelf to limit upward movement of the carrier iron relative to the striker, and each key having limited facial engagement with the associated shelf to limit frictional resistance during lateral movements of the carrier iron.

2. In a support for an interlocking type coupler, a striker casting having side Walls and :a top portion defining three sides of an opening through which a stem of a coupler is'adapted to extend, a trough structure carried by a lower forward portion of the striker casting with upper edges thereof defining the lower boundary of the opening "in the striker casting, a carrier member having a top plate resiliently supported adjacent the upper edges of the trough structure, the transverse dimensions of the carrier member being less than the space between the side walls of the striker casting whereby the carrier member may move laterally within said opening, a shelf extending from each end of the carrier member, each shelf having an upper surface spaced below said top plate, a key carried by the trough structure extending transversely over each shelf, and each key engaging a minor portion of the upper surface of the associated shelf.

3. In a draw bar carrier for draft 'riggings, a striker having an opening in a front portion thereof, a trough structure carried by a lower forward portion of the striker having a front and a rear wall, springs within said trough structure, a carrier iron supported on the springs, a shelf extending laterally from each end of the carrier iron, said front wall having a pair-of gen- 'erally rectangular shaped opening therein with an enlarged portion in each opening, said rear wall having openings therein, --a pair of keys extending into said openings, and each key having a lateral projection thereon adapted to enter the opening in the front wall through the enlarged portion and engage the' front wall after rotation of the key. i

I 4. Ida support for a railway coupler, a striker, a trough structure carried by a lower front portion of the striker having front and rear walls, a carrier iron, springs within the trough structure resiliently supporting the carrier iron on the striker, a shelf extending from each end of the carrier iron, said front and rear walls of the trough structure having openings therein in horizontal alignment, keys extending into said openings and over said shelves for limiting upward movement of the carrier iron with respect to the striker, and. releasable means preventing escape of said keys.

5. In a draw bar carrier for draft riggings, a striker, a trough structure carried by a lower forward portion of the striker having a front and a rear wall, springs within said trough structure, a carrier iron supported on said springs, a shelf extending from each end of the carrier iron, said front walls having openings therein, keys extending into said openings over the respective shelves, bevelled surfaces along edges of said shelves, and each key having a central under surface with. inclined surfaces at the ends thereof lying along the beveled surfaces on each shelf.

6. A carrier iron for a coupler support comprising, a top plate, a front wall depending from said top plate, webs depending from the top plate adjacent the end thereof, a shelf carried by the front wall and one of said webs spaced below the top plate and extending beyond one end thereof, a second shelf carried by the front wall and the other web spaced below the top plate and extending beyond the other end thereof, and an ear depending from the top plates spaced rearwardly of said front wall.

7. A carrier iron for a coupler support comprising, a top plate, a front wall depending from said top plate, a

co cave,- lower ed e efin n a ex rem y of an: intermediate portion ofsaid frontwall, n q d from the top plate adiaeent each end thereof, a shelf carried by the front wall and one of said webs'spacedi below the top plate and extending beyond one end thereof, a second shelf carried by the front wall and the other Web spaced below the top plate and extending beyond the other end thereof, an ear depending from the top plates spaced rearwarclly of said front wall, and lugs carried by the ends of the top plate extending upwardly v;

therefrom.

8. A carrier iron for a coupler support comprising, a top plate, a frontwall depending from said top plate, a concave lower edge defining a lower extremity of an intermediate portion of said front wall, a web depending web spaced below the top plate and extending beyond the other end thereof, an ear depending from the top plates spaced rearwardly of said front wall, lugs carried by the ends of the top plate extending upwardly therefrom, and an angular surface forming-the inner face of each lug converging in a horizontal plane in proceeding rcarwardly ofthe carrier iron.

9. An element tor restraining upward movement of a carrier iron in a coupler support comprising, an elongated key, end portions on the key substantially rectangular shape in cross section, a plane surface forming the intermediate lower portion of the key positioned above lowermost surface of the end portions, and inclined surfaces sloping downwardly and outwardly from said inter mediate surface merging with under surfaces of the end portions, i

.10, Anelement for limiting the upward movement of a carrier iron in a coupler support comprising, a key having an intermediate portion and end portions, said end portions, being substantially rectangular shaped in cross section, and shoulders at the ends of the intermediate portion arranged substantially at right angles to the top surfaces of the end portions.

11. An element for limiting the upward movement of a carrier iron in a coupler support comprising, a key having aninterniediate portion-and end portions, said-end portions being substantially rectangular shaped in cross section, shoulders at ends of the intermediate portion arranged substantially at right angles to top surface of the end portions, and a projection carried by the intermediate portion extending laterally of the end portions.

12. In a resilient support for a railway coupler, a striker, a trough structure carried by a lower front portion of the striker having front and rear walls, springs within said trough structure, a carrier iron supported 'by said swings, a top plate on the carrier iron, a shelf extending from each. end of the carrier iron having upper surfaces spaced below said top plate, said front and rear walls having horizontally aligned openings therein, keys extending transversely over said shelves with ends thereof within said openings limiting upward movement of the rim with respect to the striker, and means re- Ilcasably retaining said keys in position,

13. in a support for a ralway coupler, a striker having front epeningtherein, a trough structure carried by :a front portion of the striker below said opening having front and. rear walls, springs within said trough structure, a carrier iron supported on said springs and having portions depending into the trough structure, a top plate on the carrier iron, a shelf extending from each end of the carrier iron having upper surfaces spaced below said top plate, keys carried from said trough structure with one key extending transversely over each shelf for limiting upward movement of the carrier iron with respect to the striker, and interengaging surfaces on the keys and the shelves positioning the depending portions of the carrier iron in spaced relation with respect to said front and rear walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

